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Transformation of a Rural Landscape in the Eastern Pyrenees Between 1953 and 2000

In the mid-20th century, the southern parts of the Madres and Mont Coronat massif (Eastern Pyrenees, France) were characterized by a Mediterranean landscape shaped by human activity. Long-term use of these mountains for crops, livestock, and forestry led to an increase in grassland areas at the expense of forest. However, socioeconomic transformation (abandonment of agriculture and a decrease in the rural population) in recent decades has caused profound changes in this massif. Interpretation of aerial photographs (1953, 1969, 1988, and 2000) made it possible to detect and analyze the changes produced in the study area (6787 ha) during this period. In 1953 most of the massif landscape consisted of grasslands (38%) and open forests (18%), with some areas of dense forest (15%). By 2000, dense forest cover had doubled in size (31%), and grassland had decreased considerably (by 73% of the initial area). Since 1953, the study area has become more homogeneous, with a few local exceptions. The results of this study suggest that socioeconomic factors might be the main cause of landscape transformations in this period of approximately 50 years.

Mountain Research and Development, 2005, vol. 25, núm. 3, p. 252-261

International Mountain Society

Autor: Roura i Pascual, Núria
Pons Ferran, Pere
Etienne, Michel
Lambert, Bernard
Data: agost 2005
Resum: In the mid-20th century, the southern parts of the Madres and Mont Coronat massif (Eastern Pyrenees, France) were characterized by a Mediterranean landscape shaped by human activity. Long-term use of these mountains for crops, livestock, and forestry led to an increase in grassland areas at the expense of forest. However, socioeconomic transformation (abandonment of agriculture and a decrease in the rural population) in recent decades has caused profound changes in this massif. Interpretation of aerial photographs (1953, 1969, 1988, and 2000) made it possible to detect and analyze the changes produced in the study area (6787 ha) during this period. In 1953 most of the massif landscape consisted of grasslands (38%) and open forests (18%), with some areas of dense forest (15%). By 2000, dense forest cover had doubled in size (31%), and grassland had decreased considerably (by 73% of the initial area). Since 1953, the study area has become more homogeneous, with a few local exceptions. The results of this study suggest that socioeconomic factors might be the main cause of landscape transformations in this period of approximately 50 years.
Format: application/pdf
ISSN: 0276-4741 (versió paper)
1994-7151 (versió electrònica)
Accés al document: http://hdl.handle.net/10256/7830
Llenguatge: eng
Editor: International Mountain Society
Col·lecció: Reproducció digital del document publicat a: http://dx.doi.org/10.1659/0276-4741(2005)025[0252:TOARLI]2.0.CO;2
Articles publicats (D-CCAA)
És part de: Mountain Research and Development, 2005, vol. 25, núm. 3, p. 252-261
Drets: Attribution 3.0 Spain
URI Drets: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
Matèria: Paisatge -- Modificacions
Landscape changes
Pirineu francès (França)
Alps, French (France)
Praderies
Grasslands
Boscos i silvicultura
Forests and forestry
Títol: Transformation of a Rural Landscape in the Eastern Pyrenees Between 1953 and 2000
Tipus: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Repositori: DUGiDocs

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